Tonight I attended a live performance titled Abyss by Bryan Wu and Jacob Zang. It was Jacob’s graduation piece as a dancer, with Bryan responsible for all aspects of sound. The entire performance lasted around 40 minutes, unfolding in a series of abstract chapters. Bryan not only created a pre-programmed soundtrack but also performed live using a modular synth, blending in real-time microphone input. There was a physicality to the sound—immediate, responsive, and alive.
The performance description struck me deeply:
“I got lost in the brightness, heard myself shatter in the silence… I left my body in reality, while my soul kept wandering. No beginning, no end. Only a quiet resistance as I slowly sink.”
Thematically, it reflected on chaos, longing, disillusionment, and resistance—a journey from birth to urban alienation, from containment to defiance. But what stood out to me even more than the narrative was their collaborative dynamic. The dancer and the sound artist weren’t just aligning cues—they were influencing each other moment by moment, sculpting the experience live. Their trust in each other’s instincts made space for uncertainty, and that space was full of possibility.
Watching Abyss made me reflect on my own project with Phyu. In contrast to this improvisational trust between Bryan and Jacob, our process was much more rigid and sometimes felt asymmetrical. While I understand our collaboration is shaped by different conditions (remote communication, time constraints, grading criteria), I still longed for the kind of mutual respect and creative freedom that Abyss demonstrated.
It reminded me that real collaboration isn’t just about assigning tasks or meeting deadlines. It’s about allowing the other person to surprise you. It’s about making space for uncertainty—and being okay with not having full control.
If I take something forward from both this performance and my own experience, it’s this: trust is the core of creative collaboration. Not just politeness or professionalism, but deep trust in each other’s intentions, voice, and process. That’s something I want to explore more in future projects—not just to produce a better outcome.